3 ms·

For those who wish to learn more about the slide rule, I recommend Asimov's (yes, that Asimov) book, "An Easy Introduction to the Slide Rule." I was lucky to pi

For those who wish to learn more about the slide rule, I recommend Asimov's (yes, that Asimov) book, "An Easy Introduction to the Slide Rule." I was lucky to pick up a physical copy as a young man, but it appears it's available as a PDF online. That, plus any of the $10 vintage slide rules on eBay, opens a while new world of fun. I still use slide rules fairly regularly. I find that I gain better understanding of the equations I use the most when I can reformulate them for easy solving on a slide rule (e.g., so you can solve an equation with two operations with one slide move).

I_complete_me 3y ago
Save the $10 and look at the selection of online virtual slide rules at https://www.sliderules.org/ https://www.sliderules.org/.
- argiopetech 3y ago
  This is an amazing resource, but it just doesn't beat the feel or utility of having a real slide rule in your hands. Part of the appeal is the ability to rapidly compute at the expense of precision (it's the fundamental tradeoff of the slide rule, though larger slide rules and careful use try to minimize it), but the emulated versions encourage precision over speed by design.
  - abecedarius 3y ago
    I've bought a couple of slide rules and feel like I still haven't quite gotten it: - a ThinkGeek one which had an offputting amount of stiction despite not-bad reviews - a used one which was better, but such that I guess I still need to learn how to clean or lubricate it to the standard these things must've been meant for.
    - argiopetech 3y ago
      I clean and lubricate my metal and plastic slide rules occasionally. A good wipe down and petroleum jelly is sufficient. Bamboo slide rules seem to be more slippery, so I just keep them clean. You want it to move freely and without grit, but not so freely that it has a chance of slipping. When necessary, adjustment by loosening the top and bottom scales can be accomplished by using the cursor to fix alignment.
- Hackbraten 3y ago
  Nothing is moving at all, no matter where I tap or drag it? I'm on mobile Firefox.

I_complete_me 3y ago

Save the $10 and look at the selection of online virtual slide rules at https://www.sliderules.org/ https://www.sliderules.org/.

argiopetech 3y ago
This is an amazing resource, but it just doesn't beat the feel or utility of having a real slide rule in your hands. Part of the appeal is the ability to rapidly compute at the expense of precision (it's the fundamental tradeoff of the slide rule, though larger slide rules and careful use try to minimize it), but the emulated versions encourage precision over speed by design.
- abecedarius 3y ago
  I've bought a couple of slide rules and feel like I still haven't quite gotten it: - a ThinkGeek one which had an offputting amount of stiction despite not-bad reviews - a used one which was better, but such that I guess I still need to learn how to clean or lubricate it to the standard these things must've been meant for.
  - argiopetech 3y ago
    I clean and lubricate my metal and plastic slide rules occasionally. A good wipe down and petroleum jelly is sufficient. Bamboo slide rules seem to be more slippery, so I just keep them clean. You want it to move freely and without grit, but not so freely that it has a chance of slipping. When necessary, adjustment by loosening the top and bottom scales can be accomplished by using the cursor to fix alignment.
Hackbraten 3y ago
Nothing is moving at all, no matter where I tap or drag it? I'm on mobile Firefox.